Officials: Death toll revised to 6 from storms in southern Illinois

Wednesday

State officials are revising the death toll from a severe storm in southern Illinois, saying six people have been confirmed dead.

The Illinois Emergency Management Agency earlier reported that 10 were dead, but an agency spokeswoman says that was incorrect.

Lt. Tracy Felty of the Saline County Sherriff's Office also confirms the correct death toll is six. He says all of the victims were from the small town of Harrisburg, one of the areas hardest hit by the early morning storm.

The storm hit the area around 5 a.m., causing widespread damage. Initially, three people were confirmed dead as of 8 a.m. today from the tornado that crashed through the southern end of Harrisburg, according to Saline County Deputy Coroner Shawn Watson.

State officials are revising the death toll from a severe storm in southern Illinois, saying six people have been confirmed dead.

The Illinois Emergency Management Agency earlier reported that 10 were dead, but an agency spokeswoman says that was incorrect.

Lt. Tracy Felty of the Saline County Sherriff's Office also confirms the correct death toll is six. He says all of the victims were from the small town of Harrisburg, one of the areas hardest hit by the early morning storm.

The storm hit the area around 5 a.m., causing widespread damage.

Initially, three people were confirmed dead as of 8 a.m. today from the tornado that crashed through the southern end of Harrisburg, according to Saline County Deputy Coroner Shawn Watson.

The tornado destroyed the Harrisburg Water Department building in the Feazel Street area, several businesses on U.S. 45 in the area of the Golden Circle, the shopping center south of Walmart, many homes and an apartment complex on Brady and Water streets, and homes in the area of the country club.

Emergency crews were removing bodies from Brady and Water streets and were digging through rubble for those still trapped.

Harrisburg Police officer Tom Leverett experienced the storm and immediately went to work this morning.

“It sounded like a train blowing its whistle. It was loud. Stuff was shaking,” Leverett said. “We had a big limb come through the roof. We all were running to the bathroom when the limb came down right through the middle of the roof.”

Leverett and his family were not hurt, so they went outside.

“We walked outside and all you could hear were people screaming for help. We found people laying in the field and everything else. It was bad,” Leverett said.

Streets leading to the area of the worst damage and to the hospital were closed to all but emergency crews that arrived from as far away as Carbondale and Carmi.

“It’s heartbreaking, absolutely heartbreaking,” Mayor Eric Gregg said as crews finished loading the second fatality into the Saline County Coroner’s van on Water Street.

“I’m so proud of our city and our people. We’ve got everybody here. Our community has rallied around to help us.”

Emergency agencies were to hold a meeting later today at the SIC Foundation Building.

Gregg said he noted just prior to the tornado all was eerily quiet.

The tornado hit at the worst possible time, when many were still asleep and not tuned into local media to hear warnings. The Harrisburg warning siren sounded, but it is an outdoor siren and may not rouse those indoors.

“We’ve lost some of our loved ones today,” Gregg said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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